Southern Miss takes disciplinary action against students for derogatory chant

By Gustavo Valdes, CNN

Updated 1:28 PM ET, Tue March 20, 2012

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Southern Miss pep band members yelled the chant at Angel Rodriguez, right, during a game in Pittsburgh on Thursday.

Story highlights

Five pep band members have been removed from the band

Their scholarships have been revoked

They will be required to complete a cultural sensitivity course

Band members chanted "where's your green card" during a basketball game

Five members of the University of Southern Mississippi pep band have had their scholarships revoked and have been removed from the band after they yelled a derogatory chant at a Puerto Rican player during an NCAA basketball tournament game last week.

The school announced the disciplinary action in a statement Tuesday, saying the five "have been forthcoming, cooperative, contrite and sincerely remorseful."

"They acted rashly and inappropriately, and now see the gravity of their words and actions," Vice President for Student Affairs Joe Paul said. "This is a teachable moment, not only for these students but for our entire student body and those who work with them."

The students will also be required to complete a two-hour training course on cultural sensitivity, the school said. The school has not identified the students.

TV cameras captured the incident during the University of Southern Mississippi-Kansas State University game at the Consol Energy Center in Pittsburgh on Thursday.

As Kansas State point guard Angel Rodriguez shot free throws, several people could clearly be heard chanting, "where's your green card."

The university's president apologized to Rodriguez, saying the chant wasn't representative of the university.